S.R.'s Personal Knife?

[TAH]

Hi Steve and other knifemakers who frequent this forum,

You guys know knives better than any of us. I'm curious, what knife (custom or production) do you use for outdoor activities, around the house, or EDC? Also, why did you pick that particular knife?

If you don't use one of your own handmade knives but were going to, which model and handle material would you choose?

Thanks,
Tom

[mmunds]

My most used knife is a little neck knife I made, I use it more than just about anything. Forgot my skinner last year on the elk hunt and ended up cutting and skinning out about 85% of it with the little thing. Second for outdoors activity is a bowie I made, It did the rest of the elk. It is pretty big and doubles as hatchet, prybar, shovel, etc... (Forged from old black diamond file from Canada and is darn near indestructable).

The reasons are I like a knife handy, The neck knife stays handy, out of the way, and as hidden as a pocket knife. Sharpens very easy and holds an edge better than any pocket knife I have ever used. My bowie is made to do everything else. I love camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and about anything outside. Over the years I have tried everything and it all boiled down to the two for my personal preferences and style. No store bought knife has ever filled the "spot" for endurance, edge retention, and ease of sharpening.

This is my personal opinion and experience. I do not use anything but High Carbon steel and my bowie is 15+ years old and has gone though more than any knife should and is still going strong and is going to be handed down to my son soon as I make a replacement. It will serve him throughout his life also. I was never afraid to abuse it because I figuered I could make a new one, I have yet to need to do that. I have even used it to split 10 oz silver bar into slabs using a 2 lb sledge and a rr trac anvil.

Handle material on my bowie is natural deer horn, hidden tang style and is on it's second handle as of last year(Found one I liked the look of better but the original had a long way to go still), and the neck knife is osage orange wood handle.

[TAH]

Sounds like a good combination between the bowie and the neck knife. It must be nice to be a knifemaker, go out to the shop, and make any knife you want. Heck, I'd probably want to keep them all.

Do you have a hard time letting some of them go?

[mmunds]

I usually don't have any problem letting them go, BUT I did a dagger last year I wanted to keep. It was hard to part with it, 8 inch blade, handle was leather covered and dyed black with braded silver wire wrap in a criss cross patern, silver pommel and guard. Best knife I ever made. "Hamon" line turned out perfectly matched on both sides. It was a one in a million when nothing could go wrong and I forgot to even take a picture before it left.
The owner is still more than pleased and everyone asks him where to get one. I just started a new one that will be similar but will only touch it when I feel the "Inspiration", so it will take awhile. I am lost wax casting the guard and pommel with celtic weave designs throughout it. It will be another one hard to part with, but I will since it is already spoken for. (this time I have a digital camera)

[TAH]

Sounds like a neat knife, Mark. Good luck with it!

Tom

[Steve]

I have an old stag-handled lock back folder made by Parker-Edwards of damascus that I made a little belt case for and it's pretty handy. Nothing fancy. I traded a Dirk for a Genovese with Rick a long time ago, that's my dress knife. Masaki Sakakibara has given me two folders that I love and carry on occasion. One is an aluminum-bolstered lock back with green Micarta? ATS-34 and the other is a copy of my Bill's Drop with Micarta? blsers and Desert Ironwood handles and Cowry steel - with an absoulutely beautiful polish! Both are very light!

I use my #1 Johnson knife that I made in 1966 at Hibben's shop whenever I go hunting, but that's pretty rare nowadays.